Knitting-machine construction



W. LARKIN.

KNITTING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION. APPLICAT ION FILED JULY I, 1919. 1,398,865., Patented NOV. 29, 1921,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M an

W. LARKIN.

KNITTING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.

MPLICATTON FILED JULY I. 1919.

1,398,865., v memdNov. 29,1921,

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

| INIMUM 1m W. LARKIN.

KNITTING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICAT ON FILED JULY 1, I919- Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET I I I l T T ET 171 a. I "36 1 (45 W. LARKIN.

KNITTING MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.

MPLICAT ON FILED JULY I, 1919.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UMTES WALT i sates.

:aIN, 0F PHIELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 FIDELITY v KNITTING-MACHINE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1221.

Application filed Iui 1, 1919. Serial No. 307,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER LARKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented the Knitting-Machine Construction, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a standard frame structure for circular knitting machines which shall be available for use in machines of widely differing sizes; the invention particularly contemplating, among other features, the utilization of an adapter element whereby a needle cylinder of any size within certain limits, may be operatively mounted on or. applied to such standard frame body.

It isfurther desired to provide a knitting machine frame body particularly designed for the reception of any of a number of oper- -atively complete devices of varying sizes and styles whereby a single body structure may be utilized in the construction of any of a number of different machines of varying .ca acities and functions.

y invention further contemplates the provision of a knitting machine having a standard frame body with its parts so disposed asto suit it to receive a complete driving mechanism, a complete pattern mechanism and a complete knitting mechanism, regardless of the size or capacity of these mechanisms within certain limits, thus making it possible to materially reduce the manufacturing costs and allow of the convenient replacing of any injured or worn part when this is desirable.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a part of a circular knitting machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations of opposite sides of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4- 1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the frame or body structure of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary elevations of opposite sides of the frame structure; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of a slightly modified form of the adapter ring with its associated parts.

According to my invention I provide a body or frame structure 1 which may be utilized as the foundation or support for any of a number of needle cylinders such as I This frame structure 5 also provides a bearing for a second shaft 11 having fixed upon it two gears 12 and 13, of which the first meshes with a spur gear 14 fixed with a beveled gear 15 to the-shaft 6, while the gear 13 meshes with a gear 16 loose on the shaft 6 but fixed to the pulley 9. The frame 5 further provides bearings for a longitudinally movable rod 17 carrying a belt shifter 18 also supported in bearings in the frame 1, from which however it is longitudinally removable with the frame 5. The latter with said rod 17 carries the well known devices for moving .the belt shifting fork 18, which however, as their detail construction forms no part of the present invention, have been for the most part omitted from the drawing.

It is to be noted'however, that in accordance with my invention the above noted various gears, pulleys, etc., are all mounted ,which also carries two loose pulleys 9 and 10.

upon the frame 5.so as to constitute there- On the sideof the frame opposite that carrying the driving mechanism 3 is mounted the pattern mechanism 4, as shown for the most part in Figs. 2 and l.- This, like the driving mechanism, includes a supporting frame 51 providing a bearing for a shaft i 26 and a ratchet wheel 27 which with a gear 28 and the various other elements constitut.

ing the well known apparatus for governing the operation of the, knitting mechanism proper, are so assembled on the frame 51 as a horizontal, inwardly extending flange 36 serving as a support for an adapter ring 37 on which is mounted the needle cylinder 38. Said main frame likewise includes an upwardly extending flange 39 concentric with and outside of the flange 36 and the adapter ring, designed to support the cover ring 40.

In the space between the adapter ring 37 and the outer flange 39 is mounted a beveled gear 41 which meshes with the driving gear 15 and is fixed to a ring 42 supporting and likewise fixed to the cam ring 43 so as to bear on the ada ter ring only.

' The eature of this part of my invention consists in the provision of the adapter ring 37 interposed between the ring 42 and gear 41 on the one hand, and the inwardly extending supporting flange 36 of the main frame on the other. Obviously in order to suit any particular size or style of needle cylinder to the standard frame 1, it is only necessary to provide an adapter ring 37 suitably formed to support said cylinder and designed to fit upon the flange 36 of said frame. Another advantage of this construction resides in the ease with which this particular element,- z'. 6., the adapter ring 37, may be replaced when it becomes worn.

With the above described standardization of the body or main frame of the machine, various styles and arrangements of driving and pattern mechanism may be utilized with any of a number of different sizes and styles of needle cylinders. As a result, the manufacturer is required to make and carry in stock frames of but one size and construction for all of a large number of machines of various styles and sizes. Moreover, instead of it being necessary to discard a main frame in case of wear due to the rotation of the needle cylinder or cam ring, it is only necessary, in accordance with my invention, to replace the adapter ring 37, which may be done with the expenditure of but little time, material and labor. 1

In the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 8, I have provided an intermediate member in the shape of a downwardly and inwardly flanged ring 50 interposed between the top portions of the main frame structure 1 and the adapter ring 37, on which as before the cam ring 43 is rotatably mounted and the needle cylinder 38 is remesses Fig. 1, since not only may the adapter ring 37 be replaced by other adapter rings of different sizes while the ring 50. remains unchanged, but in addition, any of a number of different rings 50 may be utilized to permit of a still greater variation in the sizes, etc., of the adapter rings and of the mechanism supported thereon.

I claim:

1. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a main supporting frame; a needle cylinder; an adapter ring removably connecting the frame and the cylinder; and a cam ring rotatably mounted on the adapter ring.

2. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a main supporting frame having at its top an inwardly projecting flange and an upwardly projecting flange; an adapter ring removably mounted on the inwardly projecting flange; a needle cylinder removably mounted on the adapterring; a'cam ring rotatably mounted on theadapter ring;

a cover ring mounted on the upwardly projecting flange of the frame; a driving gear for the cam cylinder extending between the upwardly projecting flange and the adapter ring; with means including a gear meshing with the driving gear for actuating the cam rm The combination in a circular knitting machine, of a main supporting frame, a needle cylinder, an adapter member removably mounted between the frame and the cylinder, a cam cylinder, and a ring. removably attached to and supporting said cam cylinder and rotatably mounted on the adapter ring.

4. The combination in a knitting machine of a main supporting frame; a needle cylinder; an adapter ring removably supporting the needle cylinder; and an intermediate ring interposed between the adapter ring and the frame.

5. The combination in a knitting machine of a main frame structure; ,an inwardly flanged ring removably mounted on the top thereof; an adapterring removabl mounted on said first ring; a needle cylindi ar carried by the adapter r1ng;-and a cam cylinder rotatably mounted upon the adapter ring.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature.

WALTER LARKIN. 

